North of the metropolis of São Paulo, at least 228 people became homeless as a result of the flooding in the coastal region, and 338 had to leave their homes. The authorities initially gave no information on the number of missing people.

The coastal city of São Sebastião, where many people from the metropolis of São Paulo, around 200 kilometers away, spend the carnival weekend, was particularly hard hit. At least 35 people died here alone, another girl died in the town of Ubatuba.

According to the mayor of São Sebastião, Felipe Augusto, almost 50 residential buildings in the city collapsed under the weight of the water masses, and those buried under the rubble were missing. The situation in the city is extremely critical, carnival events have been canceled.

According to the city administration, 60 centimeters of rain fell in São Sebastião within 24 hours. That's double the amount that typically falls in a full month.

Footage released on TV and online networks shows entire neighborhoods in São Sebastião flooded with debris from houses being washed away. It also shows flooded highways and cars damaged by fallen trees.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is currently on vacation, announced on Twitter that he would visit the affected area on Monday.

Brazil has recently been hit several times by devastating storms. Last year, more than 230 people died in floods and landslides in the city of Petrópolis in southeastern Brazil.